To observe the beginning of Advent, the Christian high holy season leading up to Christmas Day, all are invited to attend the University of Evansville’s annual Candlelight Advent Vespers service, Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Neu Chapel.

This year’s Vespers service will feature Kantorei, UE’s smallest and most select choir and the University Choir. The service will include Advent and Christmas carols by candlelight and scripture readings by UE students, faculty, and administrators. Douglas Reed, University Organist, and Patrick Ritsch, Neu Chapel Organist, will be accompanying hymns and carols on the pipe organ.

Be sure to come early for good seats. All are welcome! 

Winter Commencement 2014 is Wednesday, December 17, at 2 p.m., in the Large Gym in Carson Center. This year’s commencement speaker will be Jennie Ebeling, associate professor of archaeology, who received the 2014 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award during May's commencement ceremony. The ceremony will be followed by a reception for the graduates and their family and friends, in the Class of 1959 Gallery and Lounge in Ridgway University Center. This event is sponsored by the UE Alumni Association.

For anyone who would like to watch the ceremony but cannot attend in person, a live, streaming video will be available at: www.Evansville.edu/Live.

For more information on Winter Commencement go to:www.evansville.edu/commencement

This year’s Baccalaureate ceremony will be Wednesday, December 17 at 11:00 a.m. in Neu Chapel. This interfaith service, led by University Chaplain Tamara Gieselman, is a historical way to celebrate and show thanks for lives dedicated to learning and wisdom.  Degree candidates are not required to robe for this ceremony and are asked to sit with family and friends. Café Court will be open for lunch following Baccalaureate. Graduates will receive a meal coupon via email for their meal, while the cost for lunch for their family and friends will be $7.50.

LaNeeca Williams, diversity officer at the University of Evansville, will be the speaker at the Andiron Lecture on Wednesday, December 3 at 4 p.m. in Eykamp 252, Ridgway University Center. A social hour with beverages begins at 3:45 p.m. Her topic will be: "Mixed: Misunderstanding the Hybrid Phenomena - exploring how universities tackle the biracial/multiracial experience to tear down walls and improve cross-cultural communication on campus."

The mixed hybrid phenomena is best described in a January 2011 article from the New York Times. “Young and Mixed in America” stated that college campuses across the United States are enrolling increasingly more mixed-race students than ever before. These same students are pushed to identify points in their own racial struggles. Today, universities are quickly realizing that they must create opportunities for biracial/multiracial students to have open, transparent conversations about race to help them embark on a quest that is crucial in developing their own identities. Cultivating a way to share insights of the biracial/multiracial experience will tear down walls and improve cross-cultural communication and, in turn, will increasingly blur traditional boundaries of race and culture. Using several sources, this lecture will highlight evolving racial classification, understanding race relations from the view of a biracial/multiracial student, reflections of culture for biracial/multiracial students on a predominantly white campus and the racial divide between light and dark skin. The lecture will provide key components for those in higher education to explore as they help students evolve toward their own racial identities.

Before coming to UE, Williams served as affirmative action/EEO and diversity officer at Colorado State University-Pueblo and at Indiana State University. She worked at the Minority Health Coalition of Vigo County Inc., from 1997 until 2004, where she implemented programming efforts for prevention of health disparities for minorities. Williams continued volunteering at the coalition until 2007 as a certified chronic disease management facilitator through Stanford University. She earned her bachelor’s degree and her master’s degree in family and consumer science education at Indiana State University. She is a member of the National Honor Society Phi Upsilon Omicron, as well as Golden Key National Honor Society.

For further information, call the series coordinator Annette Parks at 812-488-1070 or the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences at 812-488-2589.

The members of the 2014 UE Organizational Leadership Senior Cohort needs your help! The group is sponsoring a Christmas tree decorating contest fundraiser for Deaconess Riley Children’s Services. Local businesses and institutions are competing in the contest by posting photos of their Christmas trees on: https://www.facebook.com/TrimatreeforRiley.

The winning tree will be chosen by popular vote. Each “Like” on a tree photo is counted as one vote and you can vote from Dec 1-15. UE is participating in the contest.

So please go to https://www.facebook.com/TrimatreeforRiley and vote for your favorite tree. This is a great way to support this fundraiser and show your UE spirit.

This year’s class selected Deaconess Riley Hospital as its project because of its work assisting pediatric patients and their families. The organization benefits over 5,000 patients every year.  

This is the last week for I-House of the semester! This last I-House presentation will be about Japan. The students are extremely excited to talk to you all about their country! Konosuke is an international studies major, and loves to play soccer, sleep and read. Konosuke believes that UE has awesome people and a beautiful campus! Yuki is a communication major, and loves to watch movies, listen to music, play tennis, and chat and travel with friends. Yuki loves UE because there are a lot of kind, funny and wonderful people here. So come watch them present today in the Class of 59 Gallery in Ridgway University Center and experience their culture! 

The wellness nurse will be in Ridgway University Center lobby on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1 - 3 p.m. 

Graves Hall is collecting women’s and children’s new hats, gloves, scarves and socks this Christmas season to be donated to the Albion Fellows Bacon Center. We are also asking for $5.00 or $10.00 gift cards from Target and Walmart. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

Please put your hat, gloves, scarves, etc. on the Christmas tree that is in the lobby of Graves Hall. If you are donating money or gift cards, please bring them to Pam Young, Karen Doss, Cindy Felts, Jeannette Oakley, Lisa Toelle or Jane Woods in Graves Hall. Thank you!
 

This semester's final workshop will cover how to format and cite papers according to the CMS style manual, including the cover page and reference page, footnotes, and endnotes. If you're writing a CMS paper, join us on Wednesday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the Writing Center. 

Our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has partnered with Buffalo Wild Wings (Green River Road) as part of their fundraising efforts for Toys for Tots. Show your Home Team Advantage Card (UE is Team D) prior to paying your bill and SAAC will receive 10% of the proceeds. The card is valid through December 31 and may be used multiple times.

Feel free to save to your cell phone for convenience and circulate to everyone you know that frequents Buffalo Wild Wings.

* Please visit GoPurpleAces.com for the card! 

Have the Ladies in Pink embarrass your friend - or frenemy - this finals season with a Lip Gram! Songs include: Mr. Santa, Jingle Bell Rock (just like in mean girls!), Over the Rainbow Medley (for the secular holiday celebrations), Silent Night... and many more! Tables open for sign-ups from 12-5 p.m. in Hyde Hall on December 3 and 4, and in Ridgway University Center on Dec.  5. Caroling will take place December 8 and 9, all day. 

The University of Evansville Music Department is pleased to announce its annual Holiday Pops Concert, happening Tuesday, December 9 at 7:30 pm at the Victory Theater. The program will feature the University Choirs, Orchestras, and Wind Ensemble playing your favorite holiday tunes including selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, O Holy Night, and a seasonal classic - Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. This concert is free and open to the public!

For a complete listing of the UE Music Department’s upcoming concerts and recitals, please visit music.evansville.edu.
 

All students are invited to go ice skating on Sunday, December 7 from 6-8 pm. Transportation provided. Meet at Jazzman´s at 5.30 pm. Admission is $4. Sign-ups via email: mt159, jg224 

The December meeting of the Physical Therapy Club will take place on Friday, December 5 at 12 pm in Graves Hall, Room 104. At the meeting, elections will take place for next semester's club officers and pizza will be provided. 

The TIAA-CREF representative will be on the UE campus on Wednesday, December 10 for individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, call TIAA-CREF at 1-800-732-8353 or 317-706-6200. The sessions are held in the Clifford Rare Books Room of the University Libraries (room 158). If you have any questions, call Carol McCraney at 488-2943. 

The Department of Archaeology would like to let UE students know that George Ironstrack, assistant director for the Myaamia Center at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, will speak at Angel Mounds State Historic Site on December 5. His topic will be the Miamis' perspective of the War of 1812. The lecture will be held 9 days before the actual 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, that brought the war to an end. Ironstrack is considered one of the foremost experts on the history of the Miami (Myaamia) and their role in this region of the United States. The lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Contact Angel Mounds State Historic Site (812) 853-3956 for additional information.
 

UE students, faculty, staff and administrators are invited to attend the METS Comprehensive Operations Analysis Public Information Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 11, 5:30-7 p.m., at the Evansville Vanderburgh Central Library, Browning Room B. (Central Library is located at 200 SE Martin Luther King Boulevard.) UE students are invited to give their feedback on the bus system in Evansville at the meeting.

Students who have received Federal Direct Loans while attending UE and plan to graduate, withdraw, or transfer after the fall semester are required to attend a Loan Repayment Counseling Session. The Office of Financial Aid will hold the last session of this semester on Dec. 10 at 2:00-2:30 p.m. in Hyde Hall, room 126. 

There will be an open house to learn more about the Master of Science in Athletic Training on Saturday, December 6, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in Wallace Graves Hall, Room 315. Register at jt3@evansville.edu.

The University of Evansville MASTER'S IN ATHLETIC TRAINING program is open to students who do not possess a bachelor's degree in athletic training. This two-year program includes didactic course work, clinical skill development, and practical experience. The clinical education component is fulfilled primarily while working with affiliated universities and high schools. Students gain valuable experience working with athletes under close supervision of the head and assistant athletic trainers, who serve as preceptors for the program. Plan to attend the informational session on December 6!
 

The Department of Art would like to invite the campus community to stop by and browse the Annual Holiday Art and Crafts sale in the lobby of the Krannert Hall of Fine Arts Building on Thursday, December 4 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You will find a unique and eclectic array of one of a kind items for sale. All items are suited to help with that hard to buy for name on your shopping list.

Be sure to read the December Residence Life Newsletter to stay up-to-date on Hall Closings, dining hours, holiday events, and volunteer opportunities!

Click here: http://newsletters.evansville.edu/reslife/2014/reslife12.html
 

The International Club is looking for creative, enthusiastic, responsible, and committed members to join the International Club Executive Board for 2015. Come be a voice for your peers, gain quality leadership experience & make a difference on campus. Print an application here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EWE7N50aZCrxrQGEIqtLLjV0IJUoePHJgzh9ONXDWZU/edit

Applications are due Wednesday, December 3!

Holiday hours for the UE Medical Clinic:

Wednesday November 26 - CLOSED
Thursday November 27 Thanksgiving- CLOSED
Tuesday, December 23 - OPEN
Wednesday December 24, Christmas Eve - CLOSED
Thursday December 25, Christmas Day - CLOSED
Tuesday, December 30 - OPEN
Wednesday December 31, New Year’s Eve - CLOSED
Thursday January 1, New Year’s Day – CLOSED

Free off site paper shredding by Piranha Mobile Shredding will return to the campus once again! All UE students, faculty, staff and alumni can take advantage of this free service by bringing paper to the Piranha truck in Koch parking lot. Paper will be shredded offsite.

So, if mounds of paper are taking over your office, home, or room, this is the time to gather those old files, receipts, cancelled checks, tax forms, etc. No need to take out the staples or paper clips. Avoid identity theft by having confidential information permanently destroyed. Please no telephone books, magazines or newspapers. Also, please note that there is a 100lb. paper limit per visit (number of visits is not limited).

The residence halls will be closed for winter break from noon on December 18 to 3 p.m. on January 9. Students participating in official University functions or other approved activities have the opportunity to apply for Winter Housing. Simply submit an Online Winter Request Form (hyper link this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WinterHousing) by noon on Reading & Study Day to be considered. For more information about Winter Housing, contact the office of residence life. 

Krista Williams, visiting assistant professor of French, will be presenting her research at the 20th biennial Meeting of the Dictionary Society of North America (DSNA-20) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which will take place June 5-7. Her research concerns strategies used to define color terms in monolingual dictionaries of French and English. 

– Finishing the night shooting a Ford Center record 66.7%, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team improved to 5-1 on the season with an 86-78 victory over Wright State at the Ford Center on Tuesday evening.

Evansville (5-1) hit 34 out of 51 shots on the night, including an 18-of-24 (75%) effort in the second half. D.J. Balentine scored a season-high 28 points on 9-13 shooting. He was a perfect 3-3 from outside while notching seven free throws. Fellow junior Egidijus Mockevicius set his career mark with 20 points. Mockevicius knocked down 8 out of 9 attempts and hauled in 11 boards for his 11th double-double in the last 16 games.

“For the most part, we did a better job of taking care of the basketball and had a better overall execution offensively,” UE head coach Marty Simmons said. “I think we had good balance. After they switched to the half-court trap (in the last 10 minutes), our guys were able to regroup and make the plays in the end.”

Mislav Brzoja had a stellar all-around effort, scoring nine points to go along with 5 rebounds and a career-high 7 assists. Fresh off of his career performance in Florida last week, Jaylon Brown followed up with 7 points on 3-for-5 shooting.

“Overall, it was a good win,” Balentine said. “Coach Elgas showed me a lot of stats on last season and it put me in a good mindset. We let the game come to us tonight. Coach Simmons always says if we run our offense the right way, it is very hard to guard. We showed that tonight.”

Wright State (4-4) found its offense clicking as well. The Raiders finished at 50.9% for the night while draining 11 3-pointers. Joe Thomasson hit six out of seven attempts to lead the squad with 20 points. Steven Davis and Grant Benzinger chipped in 18 apiece.

Both teams shot lights out in the first half as the Purple Aces went to the break, up 39-36. Evansville hit five of its first seven shots while WSU was 5-for-8 leading to a 13-13 score six minutes into the game. Balentine had the hot hand for UE, scoring ten of the Aces' first 20 points. His triple just over seven minutes in put the Aces up 20-15.

Evansville's lead reached eight at the 9-minute mark as a Mockevicius dunk put the advantage at 27-19. Wright State quickly made their way back, utilizing a 12-2 run to tie the game at 29-29 inside of six minutes remaining. Benzinger capped off the run with back-to-back treys. The Aces retook the lead with a 6-0 run of their own as Jaylon Moore dunked a pass from Duane Gibson.

The Raiders got within one after Steven Davis knocked down the sixth triple of the half, but a pair of Moore free throws with 19 ticks left in the half sent UE to the locker room up 39-36.

Wright State kept the pressure on out of halftime, going on a 15-9 run to take their largest lead of the night at three (51-48). Benzinger, who hit five triples on the night, hit another one five minutes into the half to put the lead back in WSU's hands.

That is where the tide turned. Over the next 7:04, UE went on an 18-0 run to open up a 66-51 lead. The Aces hit 7 out of 9 shots while holding the Raiders to ten-consecutive misses along with a pair of turnovers. Despite the deficit, Wright State refused to give up, rallying to get within four with 1:26 remaining.

Benzinger hit another triple to cut the deficit. On the ensuing possession, Balentine was able to draw a foul late in the shot clock and knock down both free throws. WSU got within four once again, but Balentine posted the final four tallies of the game to make it the final 86-78.

On Saturday, the Aces are back at the Ford Center to take on IUPUI. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 812-488-ACES.

TThe University of Evansville women’s basketball team (1-4) completes a stretch of five consecutive games away from home when they play the Murray State Racers on Wednesday night. The game will be held at the CFSB Center and tip is set for 5:00 p.m. CT.

Evansville was defeated in their last contest, 84-74, at UT-Martin on Saturday, November 29. The Aces shot a season-high 56% from the floor in the game. Sophomore guard Sara Dickey (28 points) and senior forward Mallory Ladd (25 points) were the first UE women’s basketball teammates since 1998 to both score 25+ points in a game.

Statistically, Ladd leads UE with 18.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Dickey (17.8) and senior guard Khristian Hart (11.4) both average double figure points per game as well. Sophomore forward Sasha Robinson also has pulled in 7.2 rebounds per game and leads the team with 12 assists. The Aces are averaging 62.8 points and 31.8 rebounds per game. UE has made 37.7% of their field goals, 30.3% from beyond the arc, and 72.3% at the free throw line.

Murray State (3-4) also lost their last game, 90-81 in overtime, to Jackson State in the 2014 Cardinal Classic. Keiona Kirby scored a team-best 22 points in the loss.

On the stat sheet, Kirby and OVC Freshman of the Week Ke’Shunan James are both averaging a team-high 17.0 points per game. Netanya Jackson leads all teammates with 7.6 rebounds per game. Olivia Cunningham and LeAsia Wright each have 23 assists, most on the team. The Racers are averaging 79.1 points and 46.6 rebounds per game. Murray State shoots 40.9% from the floor, 29.9% on threes and 67.8% on free throws.

Evansville is projected to finish fourth in the MVC preseason poll, their highest projection since 2008-2009. Dickey was also named to the preseason All-Conference team. The Aces are led by fourth year head coach Oties Epps. Murray State was projected to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll. Kirby was named to the OVC Preseason Team. The Racers are led by seventh year head coach Rob Cross.

The Purple Aces are 12-19 all-time against the Racers. Murray State topped UE 62-50 in the last meeting at the Ford center on November 11, 2013. Ladd scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 19 points in the defeat.

UE’s next home game will be on Saturday, December 6 against Miami (Ohio) with a 4:00 p.m. tip at the Ford Center. Anyone attending the game is encouraged to bring a teddy bear which will be donated to charity. Fans will toss the teddy bears from their seats to the Ford Center floor at halftime. The fan whose bear lands closest to center court will win a bag of prizes courtesy of UE Athletics. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 812-488-ACES (2237), in person at either the Carson Center or Ford Center ticket office, or online via Ticketmaster.com.
 

Two players who were instrumental in building a squad that went on to win five National Championships at the University of Evansville have received one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed on a basketball player from Indiana. Buster Briley and Marv Pruett have earned a spot in the 54th class to be enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame

Briley remains the all-time leading scorer at Madison H.S. (1,985 points) and graduated as the 4th leading scorer in the history of the then-Evansville College (1,335). A member of Madison teams that were 81-17 over his four years, he played on Evansville’s 1964 NCAA College Division national champion team, when he was named to the five-man all-tournament team.

He was an A.P. All-American and held the Roberts Stadium record for longest made shot (86 feet). A resident of Boonville, Briley has been employed in insurance.

His career at Evansville spanned from the 1961-62 season through 63-64 as freshmen were not eligible to play at that time. Briley’s top season came as a sophomore in 61-62 when he averaged 20.8 points per game. The Purple Aces improved in each of his three seasons, culminating in UE’s third championship, which saw the team go 26-3. He remains the #18 scorer in program history with 1,335.

Marvin Pruett led Springs Valley H.S. to an undefeated regular season and 1959 state finals appearance in the school’s first year of existence. Scoring 1,625 career points at West Baden H.S. and the consolidated Springs Valley, he averaged 25.1 points as a senior, leading to selection as a 1959 Indiana All-Star.

He started 79 consecutive games for Evansville College, where he scored 1,122 points, earning Little All-American honors. Retired from a career in business and insurance, he resides in Newburgh.

Pruett played for the Aces from the 60-61 campaign until 62-63 while accumulating 1,122 points, a tally that is 31st on the all-time UE list. He averaged 15.5 and 15.1 points in his first two years while leading the team to a 21-6 mark as a senior. Pruett played his final two years with Briley.

Faculty and staff can now pick up their tickets for this Saturday's men's and women's games. The women play Miami (OH) at 4 p.m. and the men play IUPUI at 7:05 p.m. A ticket to the men's game will also get you into the women's game. 

University of Evansville head golf coach Jim Hamilton has announced the signing of another highly-touted local product to a National Letter of Intent as Austin Carmack will join the Purple Aces golf squad next season.

Carmack was a 4-year player at Evansville Day School and is from Newburgh, Ind.

“We look forward to having Austin as a member of the Purple Aces. Not only is Austin an outstanding golfer, but he is also a great student and young man,” Hamilton said. “Austin has continued to improve each year and I look forward to him being a major contributor to our program over the next four years.”

Carmack, who also played soccer in high school, was an IHSAA Regional Qualifier in each of the past two seasons. He served as the team captain at Evansville Day and was the Kiwanis Award winner.

In 20 out of his 34 high school matches, he was the top finisher, averaging 37.9 strokes. He participated in several national-based tournaments and qualifying events including: AJGA, FCWT, Optimist International, US Amateur and US Junior Amateur.

He has recorded a pair of top tens on the AJGA Tour including a tie for 5th place in the Jeff Overton/Under Armour at Otter Creek Golf Course. Highlighting that event was a 6-under 66 in the second round of play. Carmack also tied for seventh place at the Preseason at Ravisloe.

Carmack was the 2011 McDonald Amateur Champion, becoming the youngest player to win the event. He was 15 years and 5 months old at that time. He was the 2014 Rolling Hills Club Champion and posted a scoring average of 74.8. Outside of golf, he was a gold winner in the Indiana State Music Association (ISMA) the last 2 years for solo performance.